13 Strategies for Waking up Refreshed

What is the most stressful time of your day? Is it after an intense workout, or when you get to the office confronted with enormous responsibilities?

For many people, just getting out of bed in the morning causes the most physical and mental stress that they will feel all day. Waking up tired is an awful feeling, and it can impact your entire day.

So how do you turn your mornings from nightmares into daydreams? These 13 strategies will help.

Nighttime Changes

Waking up refreshed starts with making smart choices before your bedtime. Your body’s time to renew itself is at rest, and you cannot possibly get the rest you need if you cannot settle down for sleep. Make these changes for better sleep, which leads to a better morning.

1. Exercise

People who move their bodies during the day report better sleep at night. You don’t have to be a workout fanatic. Walking the dog, doing some yoga or going for a swim will help you sleep better at night.

2. Get electronics out of the bedroom.

Electronics stimulate your brain, making it much harder to fall asleep. Take the TV out of your bedroom, and put down your phone at least a half hour before bed. Most phones have controls you can set to make them turn off and then on at a specific time. That is a good idea if you can’t help yourself from reaching for your phone when you should be sleeping.

Instead of watching TV, read a regular book, have a low-stress conversation with your partner or spend some time petting your cat. Some people pray or meditate for 20 minutes before bed. Calming and relaxing activities tell your body that it’s time to start shutting down.

3. Use essential oils.

Calming scents can help improve your sleep. Dilute an essential oil in coconut oil or peanut oil, and massage it onto your wrists and temples. Or buy a diffuser to put the fragrance into the air. Lavender is the perfect choice for calming and resting your mind. Other options are sandalwood, chamomile, and ylang-ylang. Experiment to find the ideal combination for you.

4. Cut back on sugar.

Sugar is a dangerous substance. It seems to give you energy but then zaps it away. Consuming sugar right before bed is particularly harmful to restfulness. Eating sugar before bedtime can cause your blood sugar to plummet as you sleep. The result is that your body doesn’t rest and you’re even more tired when you wake up.

5. Don’t consume caffeine after 4 p.m.

Make a conscious decision not to drink or eat caffeine after 4 o’clock in the afternoon. People often believe that caffeine doesn’t affect them, but they are shocked at the difference in their bodies when they cut back. Introducing a chemical like caffeine into your bloodstream before sleep is setting you up for a restless night and a terrible morning.

6. Stay on schedule.

Most people go to bed at a different time on weekends than they do on weeknights, but it’s not a good idea if you want to get the most out of your rest. Your body is at its best when it has consistent rhythms. Going to sleep at the same time every night is tremendously helpful in keeping your body’s sleep patterns steady.

Morning Changes

A restful night is only one part of waking up feeling great and ready to face the day. You can also make changes in the morning that will help get your moving.

7. Stay on schedule.

Just as going to bed at the same time each night is essential, getting up at the same time each morning can make a huge difference in the way you feel. Your body loves consistency, and allowing it to work in a rhythm causes it to perform more efficiently.

Many people get up early to go to work or school all week and then allow themselves extra sleep on the weekends. Some people call this “make-up” sleep, and it is nowhere near as refreshing or healthy as the rest you get from following a regular sleep pattern.

8. Don’t hit snooze.

The snooze button can be a tempting treasure when you first wake up, but you must resist the urge. Falling back to sleep for five more minutes is only going to confuse your brain and make it harder for you to get out of bed. Set your alarm clock for a specific time, and get out of bed when it goes off. Forget the snooze button even exists.

9. Use a gradual alarm.

Being startled awake by an obnoxious noise isn’t good for your body or your mood. Instead of a traditional alarm clock, try one that wakes you up gradually with a low-key sound that slowly gets louder. Another gentle alternative is an alarm clock that wakes you up with a soft light that gets brighter.

10. Open the shades.

Your body was made to wake up with the natural light of the morning, so give yourself some sunshine. Open the shades and let the sunrise pull your body out of sleep.

11. Wake up 30 minutes earlier.

If you wake up groggy each morning, you might be interrupting your sleep cycle at the wrong time. It is much harder for your body and brain to spring to attention when awakened from a deep sleep. By setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier, you might be able to catch yourself during a lighter phase of sleep.

12. Set a second alarm.

Once you get your body going, it will be easier to wake up fully. Put a second alarm clock across your bedroom or even in another part of your house. That forces you to move and helps you become alert.

13. Stretch

Your body may feel tight and heavy after sleep. You can get your blood flowing again by stretching your muscles. When you get out of bed, do some simple stretches for your legs, arm, back, and chest. Ir feels good and gets you ready to start the day.

Mornings can be the worst time of the day, especially if you aren’t getting restful sleep. Set your body up for morning success with these 13 strategies. You’ll wake up feeling energized, and that will lead to better nights and better days.

I tend to be a nightowl. I think it is mostly because of recent meds. I have found that keeping to a regular sleep pattern is the most beneficial. If you get off schedule it really throws everything out of whack.

On my better days when I wake up feeling refreshed it is usually because I have went to bed at a decent hour, didn’t have a stressful day at work, exercised that day and used my lavender essential oil in the diffuser as I slept. But that doesn’t happen as often as I would like.

I am a lifelong insomniac. Hopefully implementing these tips will help me get some much needed shut eye. I tend to always have caffeine after 4pm though since I skip breakfast, and don’t drink coffee in the am, but do have a very late dinner usually with soda in the PM

We open our blinds before we go to bed, so the sunshine helps wake me up in the morning. The other thing I do is take my vitamins almost immediately after getting out of bed. Then, I brush my teeth. This makes me get my day off on the right foot.

I try to go to bed at a decent time. Then I need the fan on and the room to be cool, but enough blankets. And we have blackout curtains.

The only problem has been that we adopted two new cats and they tend to do a lot of walking over us at night and meowing. One even goes under the blankets or takes my pillow! So that is definitely not helpful!

Honestly, these are some magnificent tips! We took the tv out of our bedroom years ago and it makes a huge difference! We also do not have caffeine after 6pm but we have a later schedule than others. I have used essential oils for decades and they truly do help! I NEVER hit my snooze alarm although my husband hits his a million times – drives me crazy!

essential oils have helped me out alot and when i wake up i wash my face withen like 10 minutes this always does the trick for me and then i drink some oj and get going and opening the shades is a good idea i do sometimes and that helps me alot also

I have changed several of my lifestyle routines. I have been walking a mile every morning as well as cutting out all caffeine. Two two simple steps have greatly increased my ability to sleep better at night. Another big bonus is that I wake up feeling refreshed!

I think these are great tips! I read before I go to sleep to relax. I find that going to bed and getting up at the same time every day helps me get fall asleep quicker and get up without feeling groggy. I use and alarm that not only makes noise but turns on a light gradually.

Using and alarm clock that starts low then gets louder is a great tip, that is what I use on my phone. I also use essential oils to get restful sleep then I use them at work in my diffuser to help with mood and energy.

These are really great strategies! I personally follow a schedule and stick to it. I go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. I also don’t nap during the day and I cut all sugar and caffeine out of my diet. I sleep great!

I really like this post, and agree with so much of what you’ve written. One thing you mentioned that is of great importance to me is simply ~stretching~ in the morning. I don’t do anything fancy, and I try to get outdoors as soon as possible– just for a few minutes. (That is, depending on the weather.) Thank you for the great post!

Excellent points. I like to rub lavendar oil with a carrier oil on the bottom of my feet. I also take a shower shortly after I wake up to start my day. For me, I have for positive energy if i dress in more than sweats. I also enjoy drinking my coffee outside for 10 minutes to get some sunlight!

These are very good tips on how to wake up better in the morning. I don’t use my smartphone or any other gadgets that we have an hour before I sleep. And that helps me sleep better at night, in turn I wake up better as well.

These are all great advice. I will try and heed them and see how it improves my mood and energy in the morning. I can just imagine the look on my family’s faces if they see me all bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning. Ha ha.

I agree about not hitting snooze. I think it does make it harder to actually get out of the bed and feel well. I’m not sure how well I could adapt to cutting back on sugar and caffeine after 4, but it is a good thought. 🙂

Some great tips! It’s been so long since I’ve actually woke up refreshed i forgot what it feels like! Will definitely be trying a few but going through menopause with hot flashes at night it might take awhile!

These are very good tips. I know that when I exercise, I sleep so much better. And also staying away from caffeine is so important. I am sensitive to caffeine and stay away from it later in the day. I also am sensitive to noise and wear ear plugs that really help me. Making sure my room is dark and cool also helps with sleep.

I find that going to bed early/getting enough sleep is key to my day. Ideally, I will just wake up when my body needs to but with two young kids, it doesn’t always work out that way. Thanks for giving. Besos Sarah.

Hitting snooze really is one of the worst things I find that I can do. It just keeps me feeling sluggish all day. Getting up and moving and getting some sunlight really helps me get my day on the right course from the beginning.

I do all of these but what really helps me the most is turning off my devices at least an hour before bed and making the room as dark as possible. I love essential oil strategy too. Lavender is my favorite for relaxing before bed.

These are all excellent tips, common sense really, but still sometimes hard to follow. I especially agree with the stretching; I simulate a waking cat and stretch before I even try to get out of bed. One thing I have learned with age: Get up a little earlier than you actually have to. I used to be one of those that jumped out of bed and rushed through my morning routine before running out the door. I have since learned that a little extra time to “wake up” can make a big difference in the rest of my day. Thanks for the great article.

I completely agree with stretching in the morning. I started doing that a few months ago and it has given me so much energy in the morning. Great tips overall. Although I do have a problem staying away from sugar.

Such great tips. I do not believe in having any electronics in bedrooms at all, no phones, tvs, radios, nothing, this helps to get a more solid/sound sleep helping you to feel more refreshed. I also believe that you sleep better if a room is completely dark, so I try to keep anything that puts off any light out of the bedroom, use black out curtains. And lastly keeping your bedroom cool, is great for getting better sleep.

I used to have a really hard time waking up in the morning, but now that I’m older I find it easy. I like your idea to do some stretches and essential oils are wonderful. Since getting enough sleep is more of an issue for me now that I’m in menopause, leaving the blinds open is your one suggestion that I disagree with.

I love all of these tips, especially the one about staying on a schedule. That is probably the most difficult one for me but also makes a huge difference. Once I veer off a schedule too much, it really affects how I feel when I wake up and for the rest of the day.

I think the best tip you gave is staying on schedule. There are always times when you get off schedule the best rule of thumb for my family is to not get up or go to bed more than 2 hours of our regular schedule. Sometimes it can’t be helped but I have a really hard time getting back to my schedule if I veer too much, like miss the school bus days in a row kind of hard time.

I really need to set a sleeping schedule but usually its technology that stops me from doing that so I have to fix 2 things. It is so true that just waking up proves to be stressful for me and can have an impact on my day.

Well I work a later shift, so I just get up when I’ve had enough sleep, or just can’t sleep in any longer. I might stay up til midnight or even later, but then compensate by sleeping in til 8am. I even sleep til 10am on the weekends AND HAVE A NAP. (I’m 53, its a second childhood) I work full time and during the summer there’s a ton of OT, but I still make sure I get enough rest because having to work and being tired or sick is harder

I am very familiar with strategies #4 and #5, as I get older I have noticed just how sensitive I have become to stimulants like sugar and coffee. Strategy #13 – Stretching is something I rarely think of when I get up in the morning…which is strange because I do this during work hours (sitting at a desk).

I absolutely agree with you!!! I need to do more of the things on the list though. I really need to get the electronics out of my bedroom! I hate it, I lay there and look at my phone and wonder why I can’t fall asleep. I also need to cut down on my sugar! Thank you so much for this awesome list! They really will help!

I try my best to do what I can to assure a good night’s rest. I do admit there are those nights where things happen and I just can’t rest well. If I have a late engagement, I’m too wrapped up in a TV movie, or one of the kids has something going on, it can throw my schedule off. I do always, though, diffuse essential oil.

I used to keep a wind alarm clock outside my bedroom when I was single for a second alarm so I had to get up to turn it off and it is a bonus if you have a power outage. I use a sleep mask which really helps block out all the electronic and street lights. I also find a sound machine really soothing. Thanks

I really like your point about staying on schedule. Not only do I sleep at a regular time each night, I set my alarm to wake up at 7 each morning, whether I’m working or not. I find it keeps me refreshed and alert.

I have to cut caffeine out from about 3pm on or I’m awake all night. And I also use lavender essential oil at night and it helps with my insomnia. Thanks for the other great tips and for the chance to win!

These are great tips. I do Wake up 30 minutes earlier. My bad habit is hitting the snooze button several times before I get up. I have moved my alarm away so I can not reach the button and have to get up

These are some great tips! I can’t drink anything caffeinated in the afternoon or I can plan on staying awake! I also agree about the electronics, I’ve found if I stay off my laptop or iPad before bedtime and read a book instead it does help. But I do have my phone plugged in next to the bed. Sprinkling some lavender essential oil on my pillow helps too.

Love the article that you wrote! I am a firm believer in taking electronics out of the room to help calm the mind before you try to snooze off. The last couple of months I have started to exercise and I have noticed a big difference in how much more sounder I sleep now.

From a lifetime of insomnia, I have found what works for me about 85% of the time. Forget those bright, cheery bedrooms that look so cute in the magazine pictures–go for muted, darker colors with only subtle patterns. Use light blocking drapes. It is okay to have a clock light or other small lights to help orient if you do wake up, just make sure they are fairly dim. Use a sound machine turned up louder than you think (it will be seriously annoying if you aren’t trying to sleep.) Make the room cold enough to feel comfortable under a blanket. And, just as you mentioned, stick to a schedule.

I go to bed between 9 and 10pm most nights. I wake up between 5am and 7am, depending on the day. I don’t always feel refreshed. But when I do wake up and I’m awake and I feel great, it’s normally a Saturday or Sunday. Last night I didn’t sleep well because we had some thunder storms go through our area 2-3 times last time and the thunder woke me up.

Opening the shades! I’m usually the one to do this at our house to get everyone up but I have a hard time getting it done myself. The dark and warm room makes it hard to wake up but sunshine helps! I need to work more an opening them each day!

I make sure to stay on a schedule even after my toddler goes to bed, like finishing dishes, walking dog, picking up living room and showering BEFORE I sit down with my laptop at night. Otherwise I will stay up way too late because I was mucking around on my laptop instead of keeping to my schedule.

I would say stay on a schedule. if you wake up at the same time everyday than you won’t feel as tired in my opinion. Once i wake up, I get straight out of bed! If you sit there for a while, you might end of falling asleep or getting more tired!

great blog and tips ! i love using lavender essentail oils in my diffuser so relaxing and helps me sleep i also use the sleep spray lavender drom Bath and body ( my daughter sprays her pillow at night and she doesnt have bad dreams 😉 )

I feel like having a sleep schedule that gives you the full 8 hours of sleep is super important! I also think that having a decent mattress and ergonomic pillow are so essential. I have a salt lamp bedside and I think it helps me sleep better as well. I feel like the better I sleep the more refreshed I am in the morning!

I don’t have any electronics in my bedroom. At night, the minute my head hits the pillow, I’m out. When my alarm goes off in the morning, I get up and do some stretches. I have my slump around 11am, so luckily I’m able to lay down and take an hour nap. I seem to get my surges of energy in the morning and after 7pm.

There are so many good tips listed in your post! I totally agree with not eating sugar before bedtime because I feel miserable after I do and can’t sleep at night. I think it helps me to set two alarms on my phone about 10 minutes apart to wake up and ready to go.

Thanks for your excellent and extremely helpful article on waking up refreshed. I had used some of your tips at one time or another over the years. The best ones for me are not using a blaring, annoying alarm and not using an alarm clock with a snooze button. I started using a 2nd alarm clock that was across the room so I had to physically get up and turn it off. Stretching and getting up slowly, but an hour earlier than I used to get up helped me to get moving and feel better all day. I found it helpful to do laundry and tidy up the house before getting my child up for breakfast on school days. It helped him get to school on time and have a better attitude all day, which made my day better. My son is 28 now and is my caregiver so things have changed a great deal. I am disabled now and take medication that makes me sleepy, groggy and dizzy. It’s much harder to wake up feeling refreshed when you take medications and have chronic pain, but your tip about essential oils has been helping with that. I had 2 falls that required 2 subsequent hospital stays of over a month each time due to having a surgical repair of the 7 breaks to my right tibia/fibula and a right hip replacement. I needed to have a right knee replacement prior to the falls, but now the doctor says my leg is not stable enough to have it done. Constant pain makes it difficult to wake up feeling refreshed, but your tips did help so you have my forever gratitude.

I definitely do not sleep well as pain tends to wake me up and keeps me from getting any type of restful sleep. I do take medications that are supposed to help me sleep and reduce the pain, however, sadly enough this does work that great. I tend to wake up only after a few hours of sleep, if that and then my body is so sluggish during the day. I realize my body needs to get to the level of sleep to help it repair itself. I have tried various types of way that are supposed to help me with my zzz’s, which include: lavender, tv on with timer, relaxation spa music, as well as a salt lamp

I try to stay on a routine including the weekends. This way I get plenty of rest no matter what. I also try not to have any caffeine at least two hours before going to bed. I also don’t allow myself any electronics at least 1 1/2 hours before closing my eyes.

There is some really great information in this article. I think getting electronics out of the bedroom is one of the best pieces of advice. I know that sometimes if I wake up in the middle of the night I check my phone for messages and then I can easily fall into the black hole of Facebook and before I know it I’ve wasted 30 minutes of sleep for nothing. Unfortunately my husband’s job requires him to be on call pretty much 24/7 so all of the beeps and dings from his phone wake me up during the night as well. Oh man…remember the good old days before smart phones. Haha

The two best ideas I likes were waking up 30 minutes early and stretching. If you take some time to stretch I feel it helps wake up your whole body. You could even do stretches while still laying in bed.

I try to go to bed about the same time each night. It helps a little. I also try not to nap during the day or I can’t sleep throught the night then. If I have to rest during the day, I just try to relax and watch some television, but not lay in the bed.

Great strategies for getting up in the morning. I think the strategies for a good night’s sleep are just as if not more important if you want to be successful at being alert and awake in the morning. Thanks for the tips!

I try to do water aerobics at least 6 days a week, this gives me more energy during the day. I have also cut out sugar and lowered my carb intake this eliminates a mid day crash and I’m not tempted to take a nap ruining my sleep at night.

Oh man,I am so not the person to ask about waking refreshed in the morning,lol! I am the worst when it comes to staying up too late.I don’t get a lot of quiet time to myself so I tend to stay up after the kids are in bed and read or watch tv until waaaay too late.

I read on a Kindle so that one is kinda hard for me to change, but I have sworn off of the late night caffeinated sodas. They were making me so jittery, so it was a no-brainer to change that habit. The one thing I am eager to try is the essential oils – especially the lavender.

i like all these ideas and number 8 is especially helpful. i have hit snooze too many times and just kept hitting it and hitting it till i was left with no time to get ready and woke up feeling worse.. i always feel my best when i get out of bed the first time my alarm goes off.

I try to go to bed every night at the same time so my body knows when it’s time to sleep! I also never hit the snooze button, it just makes me sleepier! I have found on days I work out it is much easier to go to bed!

I have used the second alarm technique for a couple of years now. I am glad you cited it here. I find that once the second alarm sounds my body is ready to spring from the bed instead of hitting the snooze alarm a dozen times.

These are great tips for waking up feeling refreshed.
I used to be a morning person years ago and a number of these were part of my daily life. One of my downfalls was discovering the snooze button. Thank you for these tips. I am ready to get back to a regular and productive schedule.

I completely agree with you about keeping busy and exercising during the day. I am 75 and because I’m retired I belong to a health club and go at least 2 to 3 times a week in order to keep moving. I also firmly believe in keeping regular hours and going to bed and getting up at the same time every day in order to get maximum benefit from my sleep.

I think it is key going to bed and getting up at the same time everyday helps keep you refreshed. I know that in my case that if I sleep an extra 10 or 15 minutes that I feel sluggish. However, if I do stay on schedule I feel like I have more energy. So, at my house we try to stay on a schedule even when school is out.

Ok, so I have to admit, I’m NOT really a morning person. =( It definitely helps if I go to sleep the night before. Otherwise I wake up (aka drag myself out of bed) and turn the lights on. If I don’t turn lights on, I’m tempted to lay on the couch and go back to sleep. hahahaha Then, I need a good ol’ cuppa joe!

As my hubby and I have gotten older we have found our sleep patterns have drastically changed. We have learned to go to bed as soon as we are feeling sleepy no matter how early in the evening it is. There are nights we are in bed shortly after we tuck the kids in and we end up getting a great night of sleep and waking up refreshed that way.

I entirely agree about not having caffeine after a certain hour. I knew a nutritionist who believed that caffeine shouldn’t be consumed after noon, because it takes approximately eight hours to work out of the system. (Of course, I’ve never liked the taste of coffee, and I have a sensitivity to caffeine, so it’s never been a problem for me.)

I also drink only water before bed, and try to drink 8-10oz. directly before going to sleep, though I know that isn’t for everyone (especially ones who’ll be kept up going to the bathroom).

I seem to have great sleep habits. I don’t have a tv or any electronics in my room, I walk the dog, I don’t use an alarm clock, I open the blinds first thing upon getting out of bed and I stretch! I sleep great at night!

I’ve always had trouble going to bed and waking up at the same times and have actually considered buying lavender incense to help me sleep. I’m trying to find info regarding incense vs essential oil, but I might have to do my own trials to out.

I do like the idea of using essential oils and I use this for my kids. I try to stretch in the morning before getting up and have tried getting up 30 minutes early. I also set more than one alarm versus hitting the snooze button.

It is so hard to wake up feeling refreshed. I have a toddler and a dog that are constantly keeping me going. It is important to keep the electronics out of the room like you stated, but we stay in a studio apartment so that isn’t possible. It is also hard to find a good mattress and pillow, and the right temperature for me. I am either too cold or too hot. It is never right, but maybe one day I will achieve the impossible :p

Ive had insomnia for years, and its not getting better considering the electronics, TV, etc I have on. Getting them out of the bedroom is such a good idea. Getting rid of sugar (and gluten) for me was a big plus. Been working on most of these things the past 16 years of not the best health. Losing sleep is the WORST…when you dont repair your body and mind you start each day with a deficit

I live by the consume no caffeine after 4 p.m and exercising rules. These help me and my brain so much! When I stopped drinking coffee after 3 or 4 p.m., I got an hour or two more of sleep a night which was badly needed. Thank you for the chance! 🙂

So many great tips and I am working on getting the electronics out of the bedrooms, trying to convince the mister. I am interested in trying out essential oils as well. I have developed a normal sleeping schedule and I would totally have to agree with the exercising definitely does help. Lemon water first thing in the AM always helps me!

I make sure we don’t have a TV in the bedroom, and that it stays dark. We aim for the same bedtime and wakeup time. For me I also try to set a schedule that allows for me to be awake as the sun comes up. I don’t do well if its dark.

Your post got me thinking about how to ensure I wake up feeling refreshed, especially realizing that there are things I can do both at night before bed and in the morning upon waking. It’s so tempting to hit that snooze bar, but your suggestion to place a second alarm away from the bed would be a great way to get me up and moving. One thing I have a problem with is light, though; I prefer a dark room but my spouse needs a light on all night long.

I set 2 alarms but I do hit snooze. I love my morning stretches!! Also I’d recommend buying a puppy. Nothing gets you out of bed faster than an anxious puppy during potty training I am now realizing:-)

I think going to bed earlier or around a set time would help a lot. I get so worried about getting things done that it is early am before I am even going to sleep. Also, turning your phone off so you are not tempted to check on things. Those are the things I am trying to do.

If there is a way for me to wake up fresh & ready to go, I haven’t found it. Even if I go to bed early I wake up so many times during the night that I wake up more tired than when I went to sleep. I would definitely be willing to try these, though. I miss getting a good night’s sleep.

A solid bedtime routine works wonders, going to bed at the same time & to allow close to 8 hours sleep. Don’t drink too many fluids before bed so you aren’t disrupting your sleep by needing a washroom break. Have a good pillow that offers neck support.

I actually appreciate this article because I consume sugar all the time before bed and you’re right I do wake up tired. I love lavender and I realize it does have a lot of calming scents to it. Thanks for all great advice!

I definitely try to combine the exercise + stretching tip with yoga in the morning. Way better to wake up this way than with coffee or a sugary breakfast. Eliminating electronics from the bedroom would be absolutely impossible for me though. I always sleep next to my phone!

I think exercise is one of the most important ways to feel refreshed. When I exercise I sleep really well. Cutting back on sugar is another one that I feel is definitely important. Those extra carbs can pack the weight on make you feel sluggish and tired after they wear off.

As a cillegal, staying on schedule and having a routine is very important. It’s the difference between waking up on time and refreshed and missing class. When I go to sleep early and wake up early everyday I feel good and ready for the day but the minute I begin to sleep late and have to wake up early, I begin to lose my energy and feel drained in the morning and it can result in me sleeping through class or not wanting to get up and ready to go to class. It’s super important and definitely something I recommend anyone doing anytime they don’t feel refreshed when they wake up so that they’re ready to take on the day!

I try to relax at least a hour before I want to go to bed. I turn all the lights off. Try to keep sounds on low. In the morning I get right out of bed when my alarm goes off and jump right in the shower.

Honestly I am looking for ways to feel refreshed. I try not to have tea or coffee within 2 hours of bedtime and avoid horror movies or computers within an hour of bedtime. It helps but I need more help! LOL

I have trouble sleeping most nights so I’m on my phone a lot. I have a habit of watching Friends on a tablet to help me fall asleep but I know it doesn’t help at all. I definitely have to learn to keep the electronics away. I just got an oil diffuser and have been diffusing lavender oil and it has been helping me relax. Using a sleeping mask and drink chamomile tea also helps me sleep better and wake up more refreshed.

I agree with your suggestions. I cannot have caffeine after 12 pm or it keeps me awake much too late. I also don’t eat sugar so that helps as well but you are so right about not hitting the snooze button and that is a big one that I need to work on.

This may sound funny but the way I wake up feeling the most refreshed is if I make sure that every drop of mascara is off my eyes when I go to bed. I don’t wear a lot of it but for some reason, if it is not off, I wake up with my eyes making me feel junky.

Everything you wrote is on point! I had been following them until recently, when moving & some big life changes threw things off-kilter. Money has been too tight for re-upping gym membership, but that’s my priority SOON, as well as re-implementing several other things on your list. The gradual alarm is another great thing to add – I love my dawn simulator lamp!

I am a very heavy sleeper and I have always hated getting up early, so I work the 4 pm to midnight shift by choice. I go to bed at 3:00 am and I have an old alarm clock, but it’s great because it’s a double alarm one and wakes me up with the radio. Even though I have to turn it loud or I’d sleep right through it, I set one for 11:20 am and the other for 11:40 am, so I feel refreshed by the time the second one goes off.

During the past week or so, I’ve caught my body naturally waking up around 6 am. even on the weekends. At first, I thought it was weird but now I realize that it was trying to get in synch with my natural sleep pattern. It’s pretty neat once I think about it! To wake up feeling refreshed, I’ve been trying to coordinate night time stretching at least 30 minutes before bedtime and kicking my WORST habit in the morning; hitting my beloved snooze button.

I drink plenty of water before bed, listen to white noise at night to block out the neighbor’s noise and stay off of electronics in the evening to get much needed rest. I also have an essential oil diffuser in my room using lavender oil to calm me during the night.

For me its tough to wake up refreshed. I have sleep apnea so I always feel tired even with my machine. However that being said, I know if I have a schedule and stick to it, waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, it does help. I also try and not hit the snooze button and sleep too much extra as it will make me more tired.

I admit I am just a robot in the morning. Wake up immediately when my alarm goes off, get up, get ready, get kids up at alternate times, get dogs out and fed, cat fed, coffee ready, vitamins for all and we are out the door by 5:30AM. Kids dropped of at daycare by 5:45AM and I am working by 6AM. Does this mean I am refreshed? Nope.

These are great tips and suggestions. I do try to stay on a schedule with going to bed and waking up. I’m not as much a morning person as I used to be and I do hit the snooze button from time to time. I see now I need to stop that. I do like to open the blinds and shades as soon as I get up in the mornings. That does seem to help me to wake on up.

I have no reason to get up early other than that I love mornings. I sleep with my blinds open so the sun comes in. It wakes me in a good mood. I do hit my snooze a couple times if I am really tired but, since I am retired, it’s really okay. And, I tend to go to bed at the same time every night, too, so I get a good night of sleep. Everyone should.